Watch: Essay contest offers Illinois comic book store as prize

Feb. 18 (UPI) — The owner of an Illinois comic book store is searching for a new owner for the business in an unusual way — an essay contest.

Carmelo Chimera said Chimera Comics in Oak Lawn will be turned over with all of its inventory to whomever writes him the most compelling essay and submits a $25 application fee.

The essay subject is “What Make A Great Comic Book Store?” and Chimera said it should be no more than 500 words.

“Winners will be select on a merit-basis by the answer to the question, what makes a great comic book store?” Chimera wrote on his website. “This is not a raffle or a drawing.”

Chimera, who owns two other comic book stores in addition to practicing law and creating his own graphic novels, said he does not have enough time to continue operating the Oak Lawn store himself.

“People have been telling me for years I’m spreading myself too thin and now I’m finally understanding it,” he wrote. “I am doing the store a disservice by not being there. I am doing everything less well than I could. So I need to focus.”

Feb. 18 (UPI) — A Virginia man surprised his wife with a $1 million winning lottery ticket for an early Valentine’s day gift.

Terry Mudd purchased the ticket after forgetting to pick something up from his grocery shopping list, which he said is a regular occurrence, and scratched it off to find he’d won the game’s $1 million top prize.

Mudd decided to surprise his wife, Madonna, with the gift as a Valentine’s present, but gave it to her earlier in an envelope that read “Terry + Madonna’s retirement” after they got into an argument about their finances.

The couple elected to take a one-time cash option of $657,030 before taxes instead of receiving the full million dollars over 30 years.

They recently purchased an RV and plan to travel across the country when they retire, although neither plans to retire in the near future.

Look: Tractor seized after being used for drag racing in Britain

Rather unusual stop for team 1 tonight. Tractor stopped after being reported for drag racing motorbikes!Vehicle was seized as the driver couldn’t prove he was insured and was driving on red diesel.#driveinsured #2845 #1956 pic.twitter.com/QuFjFLcsnL